The Boat Race 1862

The Oxford University Boat Club president and coach George Morrison refused this course of action and the race was set for 12 April 1862.

[13] Weather conditions on the day of the race were described as "excessively cold" with "a smart breeze" although "the sun shone brilliantly.

"[15] Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge.

They extended their lead further, to such an extent that even though the Light Blue cox Richards made a spurt at the Soap Works, his boat had been surrounded by the steamers, and overtaken by one.

[5] Contemporary rower and author William MacMichael suggested: "Of these two crews it is scarcely necessary to say more than that if they did not reach the consummate excellence of some which we have been accustomed to look back upon as the highest standard of form and beauty, they were yet a good average specimen of University rowing.